Chances of building on green belt?

[m3jappa]

I know someone who is selling just under 2 acres of green belt.

He has been using it for storing building materials on and it generally looks a state, there's an old caravan, a tractor, a jcb and loads of st, along with 3 containers.

He had a prohibition notice put on him.

He applied for planning for stables and also for the containers to 'store' hay. Planning for this has been granted.

Anyway. He has wanted to sell the land for a while now, he wants 150k as now he thinks planning for a house or houses will be given easier.

To note there is several property's to each side of the field. Along with various other new builds down the same road. A house would vastly improve the place.

Is this a likely proposition?

Edited by m3jappa on Wednesday 17th August 21:14

[blueg33]

Highly unlikely

[blueg33]

Highly unlikely

[loughran]

How much would you say the land would be worth to you if you could never ever build on it ?

[RedWhiteMonkey]

If it is really Green Belt then you have no chance, I wouldn't waste the cash.

[SonicHedgeHog]

The state of the land makes no difference. If it did everyone with a field would cover it in crap then offer to clear it if they can build a house. Pay what it worth not what he thinks it's worth.

[EViS]

From your description, not a hope in hell. Had you said there's a barn/dilapidated building of sorts, there would be a slight chance. In either scenario, it's probably worth around a quarter of what he's asking.

[V8RX7]

m3jappa said:

He had a prohibition notice put on him.

^^^ Depending upon the wording and how long he's been using it as a yard makes all the difference - either good or bad.

[V8RX7]

SonicHedgeHog said:

The state of the land makes no difference. If it did everyone with a field would cover it in crap then offer to clear it if they can build a house.

Erm that's pretty much how all the new builds in the Countryside come about.

The difficulty is getting away with it for 10+yrs

[wiffmaster]

Yeah, and pigs might fly....

If this were even remotely feasible, then every farmer under the sun would have already done it and moved to the Bahamas with the proceeds. The fact that farmers have not emigrated en-masse to tropical paradises and instead, have the highest suicide rate of any profession, should tell you all you need to know.

The guy's either delusional, a chancer, or both. We've got a fair bit of Hertfordshire greenbelt, which borders roads on three sides (and all roads have houses on them). There is zero chance that we would get permission. Shame, because at your mate's estimate, it would be worth around £9 million...

Edited by wiffmaster on Thursday 18th August 03:06

[Equus]

OP: if you want a proper answer, contact me via my profile.

[V8RX7]

wiffmaster said:

Yeah, and pigs might fly....

If this were even remotely feasible, then every farmer under the sun would have already done it and moved to the Bahamas with the proceeds. The fact that farmers have not emigrated en-masse to tropical paradises and instead, have the highest suicide rate of any profession, should tell you all you need to know.

My father has managed to get several large buildings in the Green Belt.

I'm working on a couple at the moment.

Loads of "old barns" are being converted to houses following a change in Planning a couple of years ago.

[Paddymcc]

More of a chance of getting a caretakers dwelling once the land has been in use for farming or running a business.

[Equus]

V8RX7 said:

My father has managed to get several large buildings in the Green Belt.

Yes, there are a variety of strategies that can be employed. It's not straightforward, but it's far from impossible.

[Leedssurveyor]

what status is the green belt in the local plan?
Whats the values like in the local area - would a building of particular architectural/sustainable/unique merit stack up to be able to attempt to demonstrate 'very special circumstances'?
Is there a green belt review currently being undertaken/coming up in the area?

[LambShank]

Leedssurveyor said:

what status is the green belt in the local plan?
Whats the values like in the local area - would a building of particular architectural/sustainable/unique merit stack up to be able to attempt to demonstrate 'very special circumstances'?
Is there a green belt review currently being undertaken/coming up in the area?

In my recent experience - very much the above.

I have a 2 acre field in green belt, and a local developer is interested.
He's willing to spend the £20k+ to go to planning, appeal etc and he knows the local plan and the council well with regards to other planning that's gone ahead in similar scenarios.

[mel]

It'll be bloody hard work if my experiences trying to get permission for an extension and outbuilding are anything to go by.

[mel]

Oh and I've also got a now semi derelict pub next door that has had a planning battle going on for the last two years to demolish it and build 10,9,8,7,6 houses, oh bks scrap that idea and withdraw application. The last email I saw from the planning officer about it said you can 4 houses and the total floor plan must not be more than the total of what's currently there. The sums just no longer added up for the developer.

[DKL]

Buy some alpacas - I think that still works!
Alternatively speak to Jaguar as they were remarkably successful getting Coventry City Council to plough a "relief" road through green belt land about 20 years ago. Actually make that 30, I'm getting old!

[blueg33]

Footprint replacement is about all you can generally do in the greenbelt, but if you are replacing agricultural with resi footprint that's difficult too.

I generally walk away from greenbelt sites. I have in the past optioned one up (my then Land Director thought it would be a good site) and went through the Local Plan promotions process for over 10 years at great cost. Getting greenbelt rolled back needs so much time and effort. I think I blew nearly £250k on that one.